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Copy 1 p f 

SCOUT HELPS 



Requirements 

for the 

Tenderfoot Scout 


NATIONAL COUNCIL 

Boy Scouts of America 

\\ 


Headquarters 

200 Fifth Ave. New York 













Before 
my best: 

1. To 

2. To 

3. To 


THE SCOUT OATH 

he becomes a scout a boy must promise: On my honor I will do 


do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; 
help other people at all times; 

keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. 


THE SCOUT LAW 


1. A SCOUT IS TRUSTWORTHY. 

A scout’s honor is to be trusted. If he were to violate his honor by telling 
a lie, or by cheating, or by not doing exactly a given task, when trusted on 
his honor, he may be directed to hand over his scout badge. 

2. A SCOUT IS LOYAL. 

He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due; his scout leader, his home and 
parents and country. 

3. A SCOUT IS HELPFUL. 

He must be prepared at any time to save life, help injured persons, and 
share the home duties. He must do at least one good turn to somebody 
every day. 

4. A SCOUT IS FRIENDLY. 

He is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout. 

5. A SCOUT IS COURTEOUS. 

He is polite to all, especially to women, children, old people, and the weak 

and helpless. He must not take pay for being helpful or courteous. 

6. A SCOUT IS KIND. 

He is a friend to animals. He will not kill nor hurt any living creature 
needlessly, but will strive to save and protect all harmless life. 

7. A SCOUT IS OBEDIENT. 

He obeys his parents, scoutmaster, patrol leader, and all other duly consti¬ 
tuted authorities. 

8. A SCOUT IS CHEERFUL. 

He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is prompt and cheery. 
He never shirks nor grumbles at hardships. 

9. A SCOUT IS THRIFTY. 

He does not wantonly destroy property. He works faithfully, wastes noth¬ 
ing, and makes the best use of his opportunities. He saves his money so 
that he may pay his own way, be generous to those in need, and helpful to 
worthy objects. He may work for pay but he must not receive tips for 
courtesies or good turns. 

10. A SCOUT IS BRAVE. 

He has the courage to face danger in spite of fear and has to stand up for 
the right against the coaxings of friends or the jeers or threats of enemies, 
and defeat does not down him. 

11. A SCOUT IS CLEAN. 

He keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean speech, clean sport, 
clean habits, and travels with a clean crowd. 

12. A SCOUT IS REVERENT. 

He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and 
respects the conviction of others in matters of custom and religion. 


MAY -6 1920 


© 0,4565811 





0 \ 







TENDERFOOT REQUIREMENTS 


To become a scout a boy must be at least twelve years of 
age. Upon demonstrating to the satisfaction of the scout¬ 
master his ability to repeat the Scout Oath and Law in full 
and his thorough knowledge of their meaning, and upon 
passing the following tests, the boy formally subscribes to 
the oath and law and is registered as a tenderfoot scout, and 
is then entitled to wear the tenderfoot badge and the official 
scout uniform. 

1. Know the Scout Laws, motto, sign, salute, and signifi¬ 
cance of the badge. 

2. Know the composition and history of the national flag 
and the customary forms of respect due to it. 

3. Tie the following knots: square or reef, sheet-bend, 
bow-line, fisherman’s, sheepshank, halter, clove hitch, timber 
hitch and two half hitches. 


Copyright, 1920, by 
Boy Scouts of America 



SPECIAL NOTE TO SCOUTMASTERS 


In training boys in the Tenderfoot requirements, scout¬ 
masters should bear in mind that it is very important that 
the standard of requirements be maintained and that boys 
in all parts of the country be required to pass the same set 
of tests, in order to be enrolled in the various classes of 
Scouting. In fact, the scout badge worn by a boy should 
give assurance that the boy wearing it is capable of doing 
things that are required of a scout. It should therefore 
be understood that no deviation from the requirements for 
these degrees as set forth in the Handbook and special pam¬ 
phlets is permitted. 

Tenderfoot scouts should be made to realize that thor¬ 
oughness is needed in every feature of Scoutcraft. Impress 
upon him the fact that the most important part of Scout¬ 
ing is the invisible and not the display and dress parade. 
Help him to discover new good turns, and try to impress 
him with the opportunities the scout uniform affords him 
to give his troop, and the movement at large, a good name 
through courtesy and helpful conduct. 

In regard to the age limit, scoutmasters must bear in mind 
that the underlying principle of Scouting is the development 
of community interest among boys. Community interest 
awakens with adolescence. There is as little toleration for 
the younger boys by the older boys as there is by men for a 
youth of eighteen or nineteen. In fact it is quite generally 
true that the older boy will not associate with boys whom he 
considers “ mere kids.” It would be therefore unfair to 
the organization to limit its effectiveness in dealing with 
adolescent problems by seeking to enroll boys under twelve 
years of age. 

The significance and deep meaning in every line of the 
scout oath and law must be taught through interesting meth¬ 
ods. The scoutmaster, by example, by reference to men 
whose lives and acts are typified in the scout oath and laws 
and by very simple talks, should keep constantly before the 
boys the attractiveness of living in conformity with these 
laws. 


WHAT SCOUTING MEANS 


In all ages there have been scouts, the place of the scout 
being on the danger line of the army or at the outposts, pro¬ 
tecting those of his company who confide in his care. 

The army scout was the soldier who was chosen out of all 
the army to go out on the skirmish line. 

The pioneer, who was out on the edge of the wilderness, 
guarding the men, women, and. children in the stockade, 
was also a scout. Should he fall asleep, or lose control of 
his faculties, or fail on his watch, then the lives of the 
men, women, and children paid the forfeit, and the scout 
lost his honor. 

But there have been other kinds of scouts besides war 
scouts and frontier scouts. They have been the men of all 
ages, who have gone out on new and strange adventures, 
and through their work have benefited the people of the 
earth. Thus, Columbus discovered America, the Pilgrim 
Fathers founded New England, the early English settlers 
colonized Jamestown, and the Dutch built up New York. 
In the same way the hardy Scotch-Irish pushed west and 
made a new home for the American people beyond the Alle¬ 
ghenies and the Rockies. 

These peace scouts had to be as well prepared as any 
war scouts. They had to know scoutcraft. They had to 
know how to live in the woods, and be able to find their way 
anywhere, without other chart or compass than the sun and 
stars, besides being able to interpret the meaning of the 
slightest signs of the forest and the foot tracks of animals 
and men. 

They had to know how to live so as to keep healthy and 
strong, to face any danger that came their way, and to help 
one another. These scouts of old were accustomed to take 
chances with death and they did not hesitate to give up 
their lives in helping their comrades or country. In fact, 
they left everything behind them, comfort and peace, in 
order to push forward into the wilderness beyond. And 
much of this they did because they felt it to be their duty. 


2 


Scout Helps 

These little-known scouts could be multiplied indefinitely 
by going back into the past ages and reading the histories 
and stories of the knights of King Arthur, of the Crusaders, 
and of the great explorers and navigators of the world. 

Wherever there have been heroes, there have been scouts, 
and to be a scout means to be prepared to do the right thing 
at the right moment, no matter what the consequences 
may be. 

Among the early settlers, and later in the West, a young 
man who came from the East desiring to become a pioneer, 
or scout, because he knew nothing about hiking, camping, 
and taking care of himself on the frontier, was known as a 
tenderfoot. When he became hardened to the rough life of 
the out-of-doors, and learned how to care for himself under 
all circumstances, he lost this name and earned the title of 
Scout. In this present day, to be a Boy Scout is to be a 
well-developed, well-informed boy. 

The Three Classes of Scouts 

There are three classes of scouts among the Boy Scouts 
of America, the tenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class 
scout. Before a boy can become a tenderfoot he must 
qualify for this rank by passing an examination given him 
by his scoutmaster, on the information contained in this 
pamphlet. A tenderfoot, therefore, is superior to the ordi¬ 
nary boy because of his training. To be a tenderfoot means 
to occupy the lowest grade in Scouting. A tenderfoot on 
meeting certain requirements may become a second-class 
scout, and a second-class scout may upon meeting another 
set of requirements become a first class scout. The first- 
class scout may then qualify for the various merit badges 
which are offered for proficiency in scouting. 

The Tenderfoot 

The requirements for the Tenderfoot degree of the Boy 
Scouts of America are for the purpose of giving the newly 
elected candidate a clear idea of the principles of the move¬ 
ment, which he is joining. The Tenderfoot is a Scout 
placed upon probation to become familiar with the laws that 
govern scouts everywhere and to put into practice in daily 
life principles that will enable him to become resourceful, 
self-reliant, and of service to others. 


Tenderfoot 


3 

To become a scout a boy must be at least twelve years 
of age and must pass a test in the following: 

1. Know the scout law, sign, salute, and significance of the 

badge. 

2. Know the composition and history of the national flag, 

and the customary forms of respect due to it. 

3. Tie the following knots: square or reef, sheet-bend, 

bowline, fisherman’s, sheepshank, halter, clove hitch, 

timber hitch, and two half hitches. 

He then takes the scout oath, is enrolled as a tenderfoot, 
and is entitled to wear the tenderfoot badge. 

Age 

“ To become a Scout a boy must be at least twelve years 
of age.” This does not mean that a boy be “ in his twelfth 
year ” but that he has actually passed his twelfth birthday. 

The requirements of the Scout Movement are such that 
only boys of twelve years of age and over are capable of 
properly understanding them. The hikes and endurance 
tests are too severe for younger boys. The two classes of 
boys (boys under twelve years, and boys over twelve years 
of age) care for entirely different sports and activities and 
it is not fair to the older boys of the patrol to be handicapped 
by youngsters who cannot understand the requirements. 
Thus this age limit is fixed. 

The Scout Oath 

On my honor I will do my best — 

1. To do my duty to God and my country, and to obey 

the Scout law. 

2. To help other people at all times. 

3. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and 

morally straight. 

This oath should not be confused with the oath taken in 
a formal court of law. It is more on the order of the 
knightly oath of the Middle Ages, where the knight pledged 
his word of honor to reverence his king as his conscience, 
and his conscience as his king. It is indeed a pledge of 
fidelity by knights of a newer era for the building of a 
better and more social chivalry. 


4 


Scout Helps 

The remarks relative to knowledge of scout law apply 
here also. A boy must commit this oath to heart as well 
as to memory aud be able to apply it in his home, school 
and church life. 

The Scout Law 

There have always been certain written and unwritten 
laws regulating the conduct and directing the activities of 
men. We have such unwritten laws coming down from 
past ages. In Japan, the Japanese have their Bushido or 
laws of the old Samurai warriors. During the Middle Ages, 
the chivalry and rules of the Knights of King Arthur, the 
Knights Templars and the Crusaders were in force. In 
aboriginal America, the Red Indians had their laws of 
honor: likewise the Zulus, Hindus, and the later European 
nations have their ancient codes. 

The following laws which relate to the Boy Scouts of 
America are the latest and most up to date. These laws 
a boy promises to obey when he takes his scout oath. 

1. A Scout is trustworthy. 

A Scout’s honor is to be trusted. If he were to violate 
his honor by telling a lie, or by cheating, or by not doing 
exactly a given task, when trusted on his honor, he may be 
directed to hand over his scout badge. 

2. A Scout is loyal. 

He is loyal to all to whom loyalty is due; his scout leader, 
his home, and parents and country. 

3. A Scout is helpful. 

He must be prepared at any time to save life, help injured 
persons, and share the home duties. He must do at least 
one good turn to somebody every day. 

4. A Scout is friendly. 

He is a friend to all and a brother to every other scout. 

5. A Scout is courteous. 

He is polite to all, especially to women, children, and old 
people, and the weak and helpless. He must not take pay 
for being helpful or courteous. 


Tenderfoot 


5 


6. A Scout is kind. 

He is a friend to animals. He will not kill nor hurt any 
living creature needlessly, but will strive to save and protect 
all harmless life. 

7. A Scout is obedient. 

He obeys his parents, scoutmaster, patrol leader, and all 
other duly constituted authorities. 

8. A Scout is cheerful. 

He smiles whenever he can. His obedience to orders is 
prompt and cheery. He never shirks nor grumbles at 
hardships. 

9. A Scout is thrifty. 

He does not wantonly destroy property. He works faith¬ 
fully, wastes nothing, and makes the best use of his oppor¬ 
tunities. He saves his money so that he may pay his own 
way, be generous to those in need, and helpful to worthy 
objects. 

10. A Scout is brave. 

He has the courage to face danger in spite of fear, and to 
stand up for the right against the coaxings of friends or 
the jeers or threats of enemies, and defeat does not down 
him. 

11. A Scout is clean. 

He keeps clean in body and thought, stands for clean 
speech, clean sport, clean habits, and travels with a clean 
crowd. 

12. A Scout is reverent. 

He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his re¬ 
ligious duties, and respects the convictions of others in mat¬ 
ters of custom and religion. 

Knowing the Scout Law means more than simply commit¬ 
ting to memory. A boy might be able to repeat perfectly 
the laws and explanations given above, and yet not really 
know their meaning or be able to apply them in his daily 
life. 

The laws state that a Scout is all the things listed, and in 
order to be these things, a boy must know them in his heart, 


6 


Scout Helps 

as well as in his mind. He should be able to state these 
laws in terms of his own home, school and church life. 

The Scout Sign 

This is the scout sign. The three fingers up remind him 
of his three promises in the scout oath. When taking the 
Scout Oath, the candidate will stand holding 
up his right hand, palm to the front, thumb 
resting on the nail of the little finger and the 
other three fingers upright and together. 

The Scout Salute 

The Scout Salute is given with the hat 
either on or off. When the hat is on, the 
hand, with the fingers in the position of the 
scout sign, rises briskly until the forefinger 
touches lightly the brim of the hat. To finish, 
bring the hand back to the side quickly, avoid¬ 
ing any jerky or awkward movement. While the forefinger 
is touching the hat the forearm should be at an angle of 45 0 
from the line formed by the two shoulders. 

When the hat is off, the salute is the 'Same with the ex¬ 
ception that the forefinger rests against 
the forehead at a point directly over the 
right eye. The Scout Salute is never 
given with the left hand. 

The Scout Badge 

The Scout Badge is a modified form 
of the sign for North on the Mariner’s 
compass, which is very old, as old as the 
history of navigation. The sign of the 
North on the compass gradually came 
to represent the North, and pioneers, 
trappers, woodsmen, and scouts, because 
of this, adopted it as their emblem. 

Through centuries of use, it has under¬ 
gone modifications until it is now a trefoil. This trefoil 
badge of the scouts is used with some slight variations in 
almost all civilized countries as the mark of brotherhood, 
friendliness and good citizenship. For the Boy Scouts of 




Tenderfoot 


America, the trefoil represents the three points of the Scout 
Oath. Since every compass points to the north, so the 
Scout Badge reminds us that each is striving to keep the 
course laid down by the Scout Oath and Law. The Eagle 
on the trefoil stands for freedom, strength and ambition. 
It is our National Emblem. The stars on either side of the 
trefoil represent the guardian stars of the pole. They stand 
for trustworthiness, loyalty and other scout virtues. 

The scroll which forms the Second Class Badge is turned 
up at the ends as the scout’s mouth should be, because he 
does his duty cheerfully and troubles do not discourage 
him. The motto on the scroll is, “ Be Prepared.” This 
means that the scout is to learn beforehand, as well as he 
can, what to do to help others or to help himself in the 
kinds of accidents and emergencies that occur frequently. 
It means also that he is to keep himself strong in body and 
to know the best ways to keep himself strong. It means 
that he is always to keep alert and wide awake so as to know, 
as far as possible, everything that goes on about him. The 
knotted string attached to the scroll reminds the scout to 
do a good turn every day. The knot also re¬ 
minds the scout that he should be careful in 
choosing those with whom he “ ties up.” 

The trefoil part is worn by the Tender¬ 
foot. The scroll part only by the second 
class scout. The badge 
worn by the first class 
scout is the trefoil of the 
tenderfoot superimposed on 
the scroll, as shown on 
page 6 . ! 

The official badges of the Boy Scouts of 
America are issued by the National Council [ 
and may be secured only from the National 
Headquarters. These badges are protected by the U. S. 
Patent Laws (letters patent numbers 415 12 an d 4 X 53 2 ) 
and anyone infringing on these patents is open to prosecu¬ 
tion. 

Composition and History of the Flag 

The following brief history has been prepared for tender¬ 
foot instruction. It is merely suggestive and should be 
used as a basis for further knowledge of the National Flag. 



Tenderfoot 

Scout 



Second Class 
Scout 


8 


Scout Helps 

History fails to inform us who first suggested the idea 
for the composition of the National Flag. Some writers 
claim that the design was suggested by George Washington’s 
coat of arms, while others say that the stripes were taken 
from the thirteen stripes in the banner of the Philadelphia 
Troop of Light Horse. The design was decided upon by a 
committee of the Continental Congress, consisting of Gen. 
George Washington, Robert Morris, and Col. George Ross. 
The design called for, originally, a six-pointed star, but was 
later changed to one having five points. 

The flag first became national on June 14, 1777, when the 
American Congress adopted the following resolution pro¬ 
posed by John Adams of Massachusetts: 

“Resolved: That the flag of the thirteen United States 
be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union 
be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new 
constellation.” 

In addition to the above meagre description it is inter¬ 
esting to know that the stars on this flag were placed so as 
to form a circle and were of six points, the five-pointed 
star not being used until later. It remained thus until May 
1st, 1795, when Congress increased the number of stars 
and stripes to fifteen to provide for the admission of the 
states of Vermont (1791) and Kentucky (1792) into the 
Union. Apparently the first engagement in which Ameri¬ 
can troops carried a flag of Stars and Stripes design was 
the Battle of Brandywine, in September, 1777. The first 
salute ever given “ Old Glory ” by a foreign power, was 
when the Ranger, commanded by Captain Paul Jones, en¬ 
tered the French harbor of Quiberon, February 14, 1778, 
and received a salute of nine guns from Commander La 
Motte Picquet. 

It is interesting to note that it was this fifteen striped flag 
that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor on that 
memorable night of September 13, 1814, which was to give 
to us the words of our national anthem. This continued to 
be the official flag until 1818 when it became apparent that 
a stripe added for every state would soon render the flag 
unwieldy and unsymmetrical. On April 4, 1818, a bill was 
signed by President James Monroe restoring the design of 
the flag to the original thirteen stripes. This act reads as 
follows: 


Tenderfoot 


9 


AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES 

Section i. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after the 
fourth day of July next, the flag of the United States be 
thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; that 
the union have twenty stars, white in a blue field. 

Section 2. Be it further enacted, that on the admission 
of every new state into the Union, one star be added to the 
union of the flag; and that such addition shall take effect 
on the fourth of July succeeding such admission. 

The American Flag of today is composed of thirteen alter¬ 
nate red and white stripes arranged horizontally, with a blue 
field in the upper left hand corner, containing forty-eight, 
five-pointed stars. It will be noted that these stars are ar¬ 
ranged in six rows of eight each and are so placed that one 
of the points goes directly upward. Seven stripes are op¬ 
posite this blue field, while the remaining six extend the full 
length of the flag. 

A question which generally puzzles a Scout is “ Why 
are there seven red stripes and six white? Why not seven 
white and six red ? ” This is done so that the outside 
stripes will be red and will frame the flag, and give it a 
clearer outline when displayed against a blue sky or back¬ 
ground of a similar color. 

The length of a flag is known as the “ fly,” while the 
width is known as the “ hoist.” 

The Army Garrison Flag measures 36 x 20 feet, the Storm 
Flag 20 x 12 feet and the one known as the Recruiting Flag 
9'9"x4'4" 

The forty-eight stars are arranged on a blue field, which 
is a trifle longer than wide, in six rows of eight stars each. 
These rows are so arranged that the stars in alternate rows 
come directly over each other. 

The Parade size flag has a square field and the stars so 
arranged that each star is directly over the one below it. 

Two federal laws protect the flag from desecration. They 
are: — 


1. Federal Law — Act of Congress approved February 
20, 1905. (33 Stat. S., p. 725.) Approving that a 


IO 


Scout Helps 

trade mark cannot be registered which consists of, 
or comprises, inter alia, the flag, coat of arms, or 
other insignia of the United States, or any simula¬ 
tion thereof. 

2. Federal Law-—Act of Congress approved February 8, 
1917. (Public —No. 305 — 64 Congress.) Ap¬ 
proving certain penalties for the desecration, mutila¬ 
tion or improper use of the Flag within the District 
of Columbia. 

Several states of the Union have enacted laws which have 
more or less bearing upon this subject. 

Respect Due to the Flag 

The customary forms of respect due the flag are: 

1. It should not be hoisted before sunrise nor allowed 
to remain up after sunset. Never allow it to touch the 
ground. 

2. At Morning Colors, Evening Colors and during the 
playing of the Star Spangled Banner a scout in uniform 
stands at attention, hat on and executes the Scout salute 
holding it until the last note has been played or in. the 
case of colors until the flag has either been raised to position 
or folded up and passed from the immediate vicinity. 

A scout not in uniform but who is in the ranks of a 
uniformed troop acts the same as if he were in uniform. 

Scouts not in uniform and who are standing by them¬ 
selves will remove their hats and stand at salute as used 
without the hat. The position of his body should be the 
same as if at attention. 

3. When the national colors are passing on parade or 
review, the spectators, if walking, halt, and if sitting, rise 
and stand with their hats placed over their left breast until 
the colors have passed. A scout in uniform keeps his hat 
on and salutes, commencing his salute a short period before 
the colors reach a point opposite him and holding it until 
they have passed. Flags used merely as a decoration on 
a float are not saluted. 

4. When the flag is flown at half staff as a sign of mourn¬ 
ing it should be hoisted to full staff at the conclusion of the 
funeral. To fly a flag at half-mast, hoist it briskly to full 
mast and lower slowly to half-mast. After the time for 


Tenderfoot 


ii 


displaying it thus has passed, hoist it briskly to full mast 
and lower it slowly and with reverence to the ground. The 
flag is flown at this position on May 30 (Memorial Day) 
from sunrise to noon and full mast until sunset. It is also 
flown at half-mast . 



//ori^ontaZr- 

gluefieZd 
in £0/0 Zft 
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Vertical. — 
@Zu£ field 
in to/? ripht 
Corner 


upon official orders 
from national or civic 
executives and locally 
upon orders from 
heads of organizations 
and business concerns. 

5. When displaying 
the American Flag 
against a dead wall, 
the following rules 
governing the display 
should be followed. 

When hung so that 
the stripes are hori¬ 
zontal the field should 
be in the upper left 
hand corner. 

When hung so that the stripes are perpendicular the field 
appears at the upper right hand corner. 

When hung so that both sides are 
a equally visible as across a public square 
liA or street > or across a * ar & e hallway or 
auditorium, the field should always be 
W//m to e hher the North or East, according to 
\W * ////mm. the way in which the supporting ropes 
are strung. 

A good way to remember these direc¬ 
tions is by the following: 

Either to the north where lies our 
guiding star, or else to the east from 
whence comes the stars at eventide. 
When displayed with a flag of another 
country or organization the American Flag always has the 
other on its left — (The right of the beholder),—as shown 
in the accompanying cut. 












Knot Board Belonging to Troop 22 , Hoboken, N. 

See explanatory ch; 








«iia 

On Exhibition at Church of the Holy Innocents, Hoboken, 
at end of pamphlet. 












12 


Scout Helps 


Platform Display 

When displayed on a platform the flag is placed at the 
speaker’s right hand side. 

Display in Windows, etc. 

In displaying a flag in a window, on a porch, or on the 
outside' of a building, it should be remembered that it is 
placed there for the benefit of the passerby. When hanging 
a flag in such a position, this fact should be kept in mind 
so that the flag may not be incorrectly hung. 

If in a window or on a porch, it will appear incorrectly 
hung when viewed from the inside, but to the passerby the 
flag will be in its proper position. The same care should 
be taken in displaying two flags crossed in a window. The 
flags, when correctly placed and viewed from the interior, 
will have the American Flag on the right side and the other 
on the left. This would be incorrect if it were not for the 
fact that we are placing the flag in the window for the 
benefit of those passing on the outside. 

With Other Flags 

When carried with a number of other flags, as in a parade 
or pageant, the American Flag should either be borne ahead 
of the others or in the center. If, however, there is only one 
other flag, the American Flag has the place of honor on the 
right, having the flag of the other country, organization or 
state on its left. 

Salute by Cannon 

The National salute is twenty-one guns. The national 
salute to the flag is twenty-one guns. The salute is not fired 
on Sunday unless required by International courtesy. 

In Passing Review 

A stand of colors on parade passing a reviewing officer 
recognizes him in the following manner. The bearer of a 
state or organization flag dips his flag as he passes the re¬ 
viewing officer. The American Flag, however, is never 
dipped, whether on parade or elsewhere. 

The following books are recommended to those who wish, 
to go further into the history and customs of our flag: 


Tenderfoot 


13 

“ Manual of Customs and Drills,” National Headquarters 
Supply Department, 10c. 

“ Handbook for Boys.” 

“ History and Significance of the American Flag,” Emily 
K. Ide, 65 Rutland Street, Boston, Mass. 

“ Officers’ Manual, U. S. Army,” Capt. James A. Moss. 
National Geographic Magazine, October, 1917. 

Distress Signal 

To fly the American flag upside down is a signal of dire 
distress which should be answered immediately. This sig¬ 
nal is only used at sea. 

Portraying 

When portraying the American Flag, always show it with 
•the stripes horizontal, field in the upper left hand corner 
and attached to a staff. 



Unveiling Ceremonies 

In unveiling ceremonies when the flag is used to cover 
the monument or bust it should always be raised, never al¬ 
lowed to fall to the ground. 

Display with Others 

When a number of flags are displayed on poles the Amer¬ 
ican Flag is hoisted in the most conspicuous position. It is 
raised first and taken down last. 

The following questions are listed to enable the scout¬ 
master to construct an examination on this subject. 

(1) Describe the American Flag, as first adopted by 
Congress. 










14 Scout Helps 

(2) What was the date of its adoption? 

(3) How many stripes were in this flag? 

(4) How many stars? 

(5) How were the stars arranged on the field? 

(6) Were there ever more than thirteen stripes in the 
American Flag? 

(7) What states did these two extra stripes represent? 

(8) Why was this plan of adding an extra stripe for 
every state admitted to the Union discontinued ? 

(9) If a new state were admitted into the Union today, 
when would the additional star appear upon the 
Flag? 

(10) Under what conditions is the American Flag flown 
at half-mast? 

(11) How long a time is it displayed in this position ? 

(12) If you were assigned the duty of raising the Flag to 
half-mast, how would you do it? 

(13) Describe the attitude of a Scout in uniform during 
the ceremony of raising or lowering the Flag. 

(14) What is the difference in the attitude between a Scout 
in uniform and without uniform at the above time? 

(15) What does a Scout in uniform do when observing the 
colors approaching him “ on parade.” 

(16) Give the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 


KNOTS THAT EVERY TENDERFOOT SCOUT IS 
REQUIRED TO KNOW 


Have you ever stopped to think what an important part 
knots play in this world? Not a trade or profession exists 
that does not at some time or other depend for success upon 
the skillful tying of a knot. The sailor of old invented the 
sheet bend because it was the one knot that met all the 
requirements in sail-setting. The surgeon modified the 
square knot and gave to it a greater value in connection with 
bandaging. The fireman by a modification of the bowline 
formed a knot that gave greater protection to a person being 
lowered from a burning building. This list could be car¬ 
ried out ad infinitum. 

We all know the trouble that we experience in untying 
bundles that come to us from the stores, simply because 
some inexperienced packer is not familiar enough with 
knots to tie one which can be easily undone. One case is 
on record where a young boy lost his eye by trying to undo a 
Christmas package with a button hook. 

A scout, however, is different. When he is finally 
granted his tenderfoot pin he knows nine knots at least. In 
his outdoor work, on hikes and in camp, his knowledge of 
these knots stands him in good stead and he has no fear of 
a tent coming down in the middle of the night because of an 
improperly tied knot, and if he should want to untie that 
knot in utter darkness he could do so on account of his fa¬ 
miliarity with its form. 

No one has ever compiled a list of all the different knots 
that are known, but it is safe to say that if they were all 
gathered together in one book there would most probably be 
about one hundred of them. 

Johann Benedict Listing (1808-1882) wrote extensively 
on the subject of knots in 1847 and later Peter Guthrie Tait 
and Otto Boeddicker presented papers on this subject before 
European scientific societies. According to records left by 
Tait “ Christian Felix Klein has proved the remarkable prop- 

15 


i6 


Scout Helps 


osition that knots cannot exist in a space of four dimen¬ 
sions.” 

Three things are absolutely essential in every good knot, 
i. e., the speed with which it can be tied, its ability to hold to 
the breaking point and the speed with which it can be un¬ 
tied. 

All of the tenderfoot knots possess these qualities and a 
scout once familiar with them will have enough rope-knowl¬ 
edge to serve him in almost any predicament in which he 
may find himself. 

Before starting to learn his tenderfoot knots a candidate 
should obtain a piece of rope about six feet long and one 
quarter inch in diameter. He should whip the ends as de¬ 
scribed below and consider it a piece of his regular equip¬ 
ment. 


There are three terms that a candidate should thoroughly 


STAMDJNGc 
PART 



FREE 

SAID 


understand before attempting to 
tie a knot. The standing part 
is the long end of a rope. It is 
almost always held in the left 
hand while the knot is being 
tied. The free end is, as the 
name indicates, the end with 
which the knot is tied. In the 
illustrations it is always shown 
“ whipped ” to distinguish it 
from the standing part. The 
bight is the curve that is formed 
in a rope when the free end 
is bent backwards toward the 
standing part. Should the free 
end be brought across the stand¬ 
ing part it would form a loop. 
Figure i of the series of cuts 
illustrating the method of tying 
a bowline shows a loop formed 
in this manner. 


Whipping 

The ends of all ropes should be secured to prevent them 
from ravelling. The simplest way of doing this is to bind 
the ends with twine in the following manner: 




Tenderfoot 


17 

1. Lay a piece of twine about two foot long upon a rope, 
and wind the part E (Fig. 1) tightly around the rope and 
twine. 

2. Continue winding tightly until the position shown in 
Fig. 2 is reached, then pull up the end B and place the end 
E upon the rope. 



3. Continue winding until the whipping is an inch or 
more long as shown in Fig. 3. 

4. Pull up the end E as shown in Fig. 4 and cut the twine. 
Figure 5 shows the end whipped. 

The Square or Reef Knot 

This knot is most probably the most used one of all. It 
should be used every time an ordinary knot is required. It 
can be tied quicker than any other, will hold to the break¬ 
ing point, and can be untied as readily as it was tied. 

If you are not careful in tying this you will form what is 
known as the granny knot. If you do not know what this 
is already, do not attempt to learn it, as it is the scout’s 
one foe in the knot line. 




Scout Helps 


18 



To Tie a Square Knot 

1. Start with left over right. Pass right hand under A, 
grasp B, and twist it around A. (Fig. 2.) 

2. Cross ends right over left. (Fig. 3.) 

3. Twist B around A to position in Fig. 4. 

4. Pass B over loop. (Fig. 4.) 

5. Hold both ends. (Fig. 5.) 

If correctly tied the ends will be parallel, B to B and A 
to A, with nothing between. 

The Sheet Bend 

This knot was originally designed for attaching (bending) 
a rope (sheet) to the end of a sail. It is chiefly used for 
tying together two ropes of different sizes, or else in attach¬ 
ing a rope to a loop already made. It is invaluable in con¬ 
nection with guy ropes on a tent. 


Tenderfoot 


19 




2 



To Make a Sheet Bend 

1. When joining ropes of unequal size, make a bight with 
the large rope in the left hand, and pass the smaller line 
through from underneath. (Fig. 1.) 

2. Pass small line under the bight. (Fig. 2.) 

3. Pass this end under itself. (Fig. 3.) 

2. Pull taut. 

Fig. 4 shows single sheet bend completed. 


Bowline 


The chief characteristic of this knot is that it forms a loop 
which will stay open when wet or when thrown in the air, 
as in tossing it to a person who may be in danger of drown¬ 
ing. It is also used in lowering a person from a burning 
building or a similar position, though a modification of this 
knot, called a bowline on a bight, is used by firemen in 
rescue work of this kind. 


20 


Scout Helps 






FlC-i.k. 


To Make a Bowline (Sailor’s Method) 

1. Place free end on standing part, forming a loop a little 
larger than the size required. (Fig. i.) 

2. Grasp both parts with right hand and pass left hand, 
as shown by dotted line (Fig. 2), at the same time turning 
both palms up as in Fig. 3. 

3. Hold loop with left hand and grasp free end with right. 

4. Pass free end behind standing part and down through 
the loop. (Fig. 4.) 

5. Hold the bight thus formed with the right hand and 
pull taut with the left on the standing part. (Fig. 5.) 

Fig. 6 shows the completed knot. 




Tenderfoot 


21 


Fisherman’s Knot 

This knot is used mostly, as the name would indicate, by 
fishermen. It is invaluable in tying pieces of gut together to 
form a leader, and is hardly ever used outside of fishing 
tackle. 


A 



B 




To Tie a Fisherman’s Knot 

1. Lay the ends to be joined side by side. (Fig. i.) 

2. Make a simple overhand knot around B with A, as 

shown in Fig. 2. . 

3. Make overhand knot around A with B, as shown m 

Fig. 3. 

4. Tighten the knots and draw them together. 

Fig. 4 shows the completed knot. 

Note. Tie the knots exactly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 so 
that when drawn together they will lock. 


















22 


Scout Helps 


Sheepshank 

This knot, perhaps, is the most interesting one in the 
Tenderfoot requirements. To tie it properly, however, is 
not so easy as it would seem. The chief difficulty lies in 
the fact that it will not hold unless subjected to a constant 
strain, unless added whippings are attached, which are not 
called for by these requirements. It is only used to shorten 
rope, and it should never be used in any other way. 



To Make the Sheepshank 

1. Form a double bight of such size as to reduce the loop 
to the desired length. (Fig. I.) 

2. Grasp the bight with the left hand, as shown in Fig. 2. 

3. Pass a half hitch over the bight. (Fig. 3.) 

4. Draw tight. (Fig. 4.) 

5. Similar procedure on the other end. 

Fig. 6 shows the completed knot. 

























Tenderfoot 


23 


The Slip, Halter or Running Knot 

As the name suggests, this was originally used 
in connection with horses, and we find its main use 
in that connection. It should not be used in at¬ 
taching an end of rope to a post, as when pulled 
tightly is not as easily untied as two half hitches 
or a clove hitch. 

The Clove Hitch 

To see this hitch tied one would 
not think it would hold for a min¬ 
ute, and it is hard to be convinced 
until you have tried it. In tying a 
horse to a post, a boat to a dock, or 
in stretching a guard rope between posts, it 
is invaluable. If you will study it you will 
see that the strands of the rope are all 
progressing in one direction, and are never 
bent back at a sharp angle. This is why 
it will stand so great a strain without break¬ 
ing. 





Timber Hitch 

To a scout in the woods 
this knot is most useful. 
You can always tell a woods¬ 
man by the way he uses this 
knot. The tying of it is sim¬ 
plicity itself, and in all work 
requiring the lowering or 
hoisting of logs, it is with¬ 
out equal. If, however, a 
hitch is used in connection 
with it, its value is doubled. 
This hitch should be placed 
near the end of the log or 
object being lifted. 







































24 Scout Helps 

Two Half Hitches 

This is the knot to be used at the end of a 
line when fastening it to a tree or post. The 
clove hitch is used on all posts forming a guard 
line until the end of the rope is reached. Here 
a Scout will use the two half hitches. It is 
also valuable in attaching a line to a ring, and 
forms the most important part of the anchor 
bend. 

A scout who under-estimates the value of 
knots misses one of the most important points 
of Scouting. It is impossible to travel through 
the woods or hike comfortably without a thor¬ 
ough knowledge of these nine knots. Study 
them until you can tie them in the dark or behind your back, 
and see that you can identify a knot tied by someone else, 
with your eyes shut, simply by feeling of it. When you 
have reached this stage you may truly say that you know 
the essentials of knot tying. 

The knot board shown on page 25 is an exceptionally 
fine one. It was made up for the Scout Exhibition held 
in Hoboken, N. J., May 14-15, 1915, where it won first 
prize. All of the knots were tied by members of Troop 
No. 22 of Hoboken under the supervision and guidance of 
Rev. H. C. St. Clair who is still Scoutmaster of this trtfop. 
After winning first honors it was removed to the Parish 
House of the Church of the Holy Innocents where it still 
is hanging, protected by a glass cover, to be a guide to all 
scouts. 

Every troop may well endeavor to possess a board with 
as many knots as this one, and certainly should make up a 
board on which will be at least the knots required for ten¬ 
derfoot rank. It is invaluable in instructing candidates in 
their requirements, and will save the scoutmaster a great 
deal of time. 

A scout can not know too many knots. He should con¬ 
stantly put to use those that he has learned and endeavor to 
add as many new ones as possible. After attaining first class 
he will have need of more than nine knots, for to obtain his 
merit badge in Pioneering he must be able to tie quickly at 
least twelve knots, and know the knots $nd methods used in 
lashing spars. 



Tenderfoot 25 

The Seamanship merit badge calls for an extensive knowl¬ 
edge of knots, and the scout must also be able to make an 
eye splice, long splice and short splice. 

Angling, Archery, Camping and First Aid call for con¬ 
siderable knowledge of knots, and a scout who desires to 
advance himself in Scouting to Eagle Rank must be fa¬ 
miliar with at least fifteen knots, including lashings. 


KEY TO KNOT BOARD OF TROOP NO. 22, 
HOBOKEN, N. J. 


1. Hawser Bend. 

2. Garrick Bend. 

3. Twist Knot. 

4. Overhand Knot (Four 

fold). 

5. Bowline on Bight. 

6. Hangman’s Knot. 

7. Fisherman’s Knot. 

8. Double Chain Knot. 

9. Sheet Bend. 

10. Flemish Eye Knot. 

11. Sheet Bend Secured. 

12. Midshipman’s Hitch. 

13. Weaver’s Knot. 

14. Chain Knot. 

15. Halter, Slip or Running 

Knot. 

16. Flemish Knot. 

17. Ropes united with bow¬ 

line knots. (Some¬ 
times called a Hawser 
Bend.) 

18. Bowline. 

19. Larks-head stoppered. 

20. Sheepshank. 

21. Shamrock Knot. 

22. Sailor’s knot back- 

handed. 


23. Two Half Hitches. 

24. Square or Reef Knot. 

25. Slip Knot. 

26. Magnus Hitch. 

27. Racking Hitch. 

28. Topsail Halliard Bend. 

29. Rolling Hitch. 

30. Sailor’s Knot. 

31. Gunner’s Knot. 

32. Back Splice. 

33. Granny Knot. 

34. Capstan Knot. 

35. Eye Splice. 

36. Turk’s Head. 

37. Whipping. 

38. Timber Hitch. 

39. Larks-head with crossed 

ends. 

40. Bending rope to loop. 

41. Grommet Splice. 

42. Larks-head double. 

43. Running Bowline. 

44. Larks-head treble. 

45. Fisherman’s eye knot. 

46. Larks head. 

47. Clove hitch. 

48. Running knot fastened. 

49. Fisherman’s bend. 


LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 







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